THE HAGUE/ZAGREB, May 7 (Hina)- The International Criminal Tribunal (ICTY) in The Hague confirmed on Wednesday that it had received written announcements of appeals by the defence and prosecution in the trial against Mladen Naletilic
Tuta and Vinko Martinovic Stela, sentenced to 20 and 18 years imprisonment for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Mostar in 1992 and 1993.
THE HAGUE/ZAGREB, May 7 (Hina)- The International Criminal
Tribunal (ICTY) in The Hague confirmed on Wednesday that it had
received written announcements of appeals by the defence and
prosecution in the trial against Mladen Naletilic Tuta and Vinko
Martinovic Stela, sentenced to 20 and 18 years imprisonment for
crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Mostar in 1992
and 1993. #L#
The announced appeals by Zagreb-based attorneys Kresimir Krsnik an
Branko Seric, representing Naletilic and Martinovic, were received
by the court on April 29. The prosecution sent its appeal notice on
May 1, the tribunal's spokesman, Jim Landale, said.
Changes to the ICTY Rules of Procedure stipulate that announcements
of appeals should note the main elements on which the appeal will be
based.
"In the appeal we have refuted all sections of the conviction,"
Seric said, adding the appeal was based on the assessment that the
tribunal did not fully determine the facts and that there was a
collision between the documents submitted and the testimonies
given by witnesses.
"We have pointed out that the fundamental acts for which Vinko
Martinovic was proclaimed guilty are based on the testimony of a
mentally ill person diagnosed as psychotic, as well as the
testimony of a prisoner from the Zenica prison who was promised some
benefits," Seric added.
In his appeal, as in his closing argument, Martinovic's attorney
asked that his client be acquitted.
Seric said the defence had received notice of an appeal by the
prosecution relating to those sections of the sentence Martinovic
and Naletilic were acquitted for.
Martinovic was convicted on nine counts -- of persecution on
political, racial and religious grounds, inhumane behaviour,
murder and plunder. He was acquitted on eight counts.
Naletilic was convicted on eight counts -- of persecution, torture,
forced labour of prisoners, illegal resettlement of civilians,
unreasonable destruction and looting.
He was acquitted on nine counts of the indictment, including murder
and cruel and inhumane behaviour.
Naletilic's attorney, Krsnik, was not available for comment.
The defence and prosecution have 75 days to submit their appeals.
(hina) sp ha